Dietitians are experts on food, nutrition and diet. They use their knowledge to design nutritious, healthy diets appropriate for adults, children, the elderly or those being treated for medical conditions. Most states require that you become a registered dietitian to be licensed to practice as a dietitian, or even to have the word "dietitian" in your job title or business name. Many dietitians are employed by hospitals, nursing homes, mental facilities and other institutional living facilities. However, a large number also work as self-employed consulting dietitians.

Step 1

Complete an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics-certified bachelor's degree program in nutrition or nutrition science. You must have an undergraduate degree to be eligible to sit for the registered dietitian exam.

Step 2

Undertake an ACEND-approved dietetic internship program after you graduate. Dietetic internships are paid positions involving at least 1,200 hours of supervised practice working with a registered dietitian, and typically last around a year.

Take and pass the registration exam for dietitians after you have the required supervised practice experience. The registration exam is a rigorous multi-part exam covering all areas of nutrition and dietetics.

Step 4

Register or apply for a license to practice as a dietitian in your state as required. Most states require dietitians to be licensed. The qualifications to become an RD and become licensed are the same in all states that require a license.

Step 5

Work as a dietitian for at least two or three years to gain experience and develop your professional network. While it is possible to become a consulting dietitian as soon as you become an RD, you need to gain significant experience in at least one area of dietetics to be successful.

Step 6

Put out your own shingle as a consulting dietitian when you feel you are ready. Keep in mind that additional business licenses and tax filings will be required if you decide to incorporate or create a limited partnership structure instead of consulting as a sole proprietor.

Tip

Consider going back to school to get a master's degree to enhance your professional credentials.

About the Author

Clayton Browne has been writing professionally since 1994. He has written and edited everything from science fiction to semiconductor patents to dissertations in linguistics, having worked for Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Steck-Vaughn and The Psychological Corp. Browne has a Master of Science in linguistic anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

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